Tractor



Dec. 24, 1940. F STONER 2,226,027

TRACTOR Filed July 15, 1938 6 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1940.

F. s'oNER TRACTOR Filed July 13, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 mnentor Gttorneg F. STONER Dec. 24, 1940.

,TRAGTOR FiledvJuly 13, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. muy. @A015640 JM BY ATTORNEY.

F. STONER Dec. 24, 1940.

TRACTOR Filed July 15, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 v i INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

F. sToNER 2,226,027

TRACTOR Dec. 24, 1940.

Filed July l5, 1938 6 Sheets-Shea?d 5 INVENTOR.

BY JM Haw @A fa. cfm

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 24, 1940. F, STONER 2,226,027

TRACTOR Filed July 13, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR BY la HO ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 24, 1940,

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlc'E 2,226,027 TRACTOR Frank Stoner, Lakewood,

Baker-Raulang Comp corporation of Ohio Application July 13, 1

v 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a tractor for use in mines. Heretofore, so far as I have knowledge,

all mechanical hauling in mines and movement of the diggingequipment therein was effected by means of electric locomotiveathe wheels of which ran von tracks. 'Ihese conditions necessitated considerable expense in providing a substantially level foundation for the tracks lthrough the entry and work rooms, laying, of the tracks and their upkeep, as well as limiting the movement of the locomotives` along predetermined routes; it also involved the expense of providing track switches leading from the entry into the respective work rooms and extra tracks for storage of the locomotives, aside from the labor involved in supplying this track equipment to the various locationswhen the same was to be laid.

By the use of my improved tractor, these expenses are eliminated and many advantages have been found to result in reducing/labor costs. simplifying loading and unloading operations, speeding up transportation and moving the tractorfrom one position to another, since trackage therefor yis not required. Also, one tractor can pass another tractor in an entry or work-room and this materially facilitates operations of hauling ,filled trail cars and returning the trail' cars to the place of loading.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved tractor wherein its power means, con-v trol equipment and driving station are co-operatively arranged topermit travel thereof and hauling operations in the entry of work rooms of mines where over-head clearance is limited.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved tractor of this type wherein the drivers station and mountings'for the vcontrol devices are arranged to provide for operation ofV the tractor in areas having limited head room.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tractor wherein its frame 4supports on its upper side the power means and on itsl lower side other equipment for mounting the. wheel axles and drivingand controlling the operation of the tractor, whereby the height andl ditions present in a mine. l

Another object of the invention is to construct an improved tractor of this character wherein provision is made to position the driver between the driving wheels, whereby the latter may be of a 'size to insuradequate speed and tractive effort and the driver located at a' relatively low level.

Other objects of the invention will be appar,-

' to enlarge theA space between the wheels 4 length of the tractor is reduced to meet the con- Ohio, assignor to The o any, Cleveland, Ohio, a

938, Serial No. 219,002

ent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with Othe accompanying drawings, whereinf Fig. 1 is a fragmentary View of a work room in a mine and showing in side elevation a tractor embodying my invention and a loaded trail car connected thereto. Fig. 1a is a plan view of th with parts broken away. v

Fig. 2 is a section on the une 2 2 of Fig. 1a. 1.0 Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, partly in cross section.

Fig; 4 is a front elevation, partly in section.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. 15 Fig. 6 'is a fragmentary section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2. Eig. 7 is a plan view of a modified form of construction, showing a portion of a trail car. 4

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are side, front and rear e1evations, respectivel shown in Fig. 7.'

In the drawings, I

e tractor (enlarged) indicates as an entirety a main frame. having a rounded or curvilinear `front end Ia and sides Ib, which preferably have -25 1 a diverging relation, the front end and sides being reinforced by a continuous depending flange 2. This arrangement permits the front end Ia of the frame to engage a swinging door or doors and swing them to .open position in driving the tractor forwardly to permit passage through the door. At the rear end of the frame I its lateral portions are rigidly connected to hous s 3, which extend over the rear drive Wheels 4, and its intermediate portion is cut away as shown at I c 35 fora purpose later to appear. The frame I is provided with openings Id, Ie, to reduce its weight and permit access to various parts. 'I'he frame I forms a platform or base for the power means 5, which is shown as consisting of s batteries to supply current to a motor 6. Transversely arranged angles 'I are mounted on the frame I to form a track and guides forthe batteries 5, whereby the batteries may be slid on and 4 off the frame I laterally, the up-standing por- I tions of the angles serving as abutments to pre-4 vent shifting of the batteries longitudinally of.

" the frame I in starting and stopping the tractor.

The corresponding ends of the angles l, at the 50 lateral sides of the batteries i, are formed witli openings to removably vent lateral shifting, of the batteries on the angles, especially when rollers are provided between i the batteries and theangles to facilitate their y of the form of construction. 20'

uitable storage C40 receive rods 8, which pregitudinal axis.

`9 a torsional movemen consisting of spaced, parallel plates I2 depending from the frame I and a supporting member I3 extending between and connected at its opposite ends to the plates I2 substantially in the plane of the axle 9 and axle I4 for the drive wheels 4. The plates I2 extend rearwardly to the outer end of the wheel housings 3 to form the inner side walls thereof and support other parts hereinafter referred to. The supporting member I3 consists of lupper and lower Walls I3a and a front wall I3b.

The front axle 9 is mounted in the following manner: the upper side of the axle 9 is provided withpockets I5 each of which is alined with a pocket I6 provided on the lower side of a casting I1 suitably fixed to the under side of the frame I (see Fig. 6). The pockets I5, I6, receive cushioning devices to cushion jars imparted to the frame I during operation of the vehicle. The cushioning devices for each pair of alined pockets preferably comprise @series of rubber disks I8 with interposed pads I9 between them, formed with openings in registry with centrally disposed openings 20 formed in the bottom walls of the adjacent pockets I5, I6, to receive a bolt 2|. The b olts serve as connections to limit undue relative movement between the frame I and axle 9. By preference, I provide a series of cushioning devices 22, similar to those just described, between each pocket I6 and the nut 2Ia on the adjacent bolt to prevent rattling of the latter and hold it substantially stationary during relative movements between the frame I and axle 9. 23 indicates a tail member rigidly secured to the central portion of the axle 9 and extending rearwardly therefrom. The free end of the tail member 23 is provided with a stud shaft 24 which rotatably fits a bearing 25 provided in a block 26. The block 26 is provided on its opposite sides with trunnions 21, which are rotatably mounted in suitable bearings provided in a. bracket 28, the latter being rigidly secured to the wall I3b. The trunnions 21 permit the axle 9 and tail member 23 to swing in a vertical plane and the shaft 24 permits these parts to rock on a lon- The stud shaft 24 is preferably provided by forming in the rear end of the tail member 23 a threaded opening and inserting therein a threaded pin, the outer portion of which forms the shaft 24 fitting the bearing 25. The pin preferably extends through the bearing 25 and therebeyond it is threaded totake a nut 29. As the tail member 23 engages the block 26 on one side and the nut 29 engages therewith on its opposite side, the block and its mounting resist stresses which tend to impart to the axle The central portion of the axle 9-is provided en its outer side with la boss 30, a through opening 4Ia being formed in the axleand boss to form a support for the Shank portion of a shaft 3l. The inner end of the shaft 3I is provided with a head (not shown) which seats against the inner side of the axle. The outer end portion of the shaft is preferably reduced and rotatably ts a bushing provided in an opening formed in a guide block 32. The shaft 3I is provided with a reduced, threaded support rally provided on the amaca? free end to take a nut 33 which clamps a washer against the resulting shoulder to hold the shaft in position' and the block 32 in assembled relation therewith. The guide block 32 is slidably mounted between spaced guides 34, which depend from the frame I, and permits relative movements vertically between the axle 9 and frame I on -the trunnions 21. The guides 34 prevent lateral endwise movement of the axle 9. The guide block 32 accordingly cooperates with the trunnioned block 26 to maintain the axle in transverse relation to the frame I or at right angles to the normal direction of movement of the tractor. y

As shown in Fig. la, the axes of the shafts 24 and 3l are co-incident and are disposed in a plane extending vertically through the central longitudinal axis of the frame I, so that the axle 9 is rocked about such axis due to unevennessof the surface; for example, where one wheel I6 rides a hump, or enters a depression. Also, as the axle is mounted to swing about a transverse axis on the block 26, the frame and axle may move vertically relative to each other, to permit cushioning by the devices I8.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the front axle 9 is mounted on or con,- nected to the frame I at two spaced points disposed in the plane extending vertically through the central longitudinal axis of the frame, the connection on one side of the axle constituting a universal joint and the connection on the other side of the axle constituting a combined pivotal and slidable one. By this arrangement the axle is maintained in transverse relation to the frame and parallel to the other axle for the vehicle,l but is free to rock and swing relative to the chassis while being driven anism hereinafter referred to.

The front axle 9 is provided at its opposite ends with'knuckles 35 and is of a length to pivotally the front wheels Ill in planes within the planes of the outer rear wheels 4. It will be noted that the tires on the wheels 4 and I0 are of large size in cross section (preferably of the balloon type), and this size of tire has been found to be advantageous for a tractor for use in mines as they tend to roll out the loose surface material, which accumulates on the floors of the entry and work rooms, to provide a substantially level. surface, so that the tractor may be readily driven thereover at desirable speeds, when the trail car is empty and when the car is loaded. It will thus be seen that the expense of paving is eliminated. This tendency to maintain the floors leveled off is increased by using duplex wheels on the rear axle I4, 'as well as to increase the tractive effort between the axle and floors.

.The wheels IIJ are steered by the following elementsithe spindle supporting knuckle for each wheel IIJ is provided with an arm 36 to which is pivoted one end of a link 31, the other end of the link being pivotally connected intermediate the ends of a lever 38. One end of the lever 38 is pivotally mounted on an extension 38a integfront side of the axle 9 at' the adjacent side of the axes of the shafts 24 and 3|, the opposite end of the lever 38 being connected by a link 39 to the corresponding end of the other lever 3B. The lever 38 connected to the Wheel I0 on the side adjacent tothe steering Wheel 40, is provided with an arm 4I to which the outer end of a rod 42 is connected. 'Ihe inner end of the rod 42 is pivotally connected to an arm 43 which is fixed to the vshaft of a gear by the driving mecli.

mechanism enclosed in a housing 44, the shaft being supported in bearings carried by the plates I3a. vThe gear mechanism is operated by a shaft 45 having a universal joint connection with the l 6 steering column 46 carrying the steering wheel 40 at its outer end. The outer end portion of the steering column 46 is supported by a standard 41 formed of two relatively adjustable sections,I

the lower one beingfixed to a pad provided on 10 the housing, I4a for the rear wheel axle I4 and the upper` one being pivoted to a collar 41a through which the column 46 rotatably extends. As shown' in Fig. 2, the sections of the standard 41 have. overlapping portions slidably related and l5 are secured together vby bolts 41', which .when loosened permit the upper section to be adjusted endwise, whereby the column 46 may be raised or lowered so as to locate the steering wheel 40 in any desired position for convenientoperation by the driver.

The axle housings I4a are Vconnected to the housing 48 for a suitable transmission mechanism arranged laterally of the central longitudinal axis `of the frame I to provide between the wheel housings 3 space forJ the driver and mounting of the control devices, which are later referred to. The housing 48 is provided with a cradle 46a to which the motor 6 is rigidly secured and provided With an extension 4S to the outer end of which a torque member 5|l,is connected by a universal joint, one end of the torque member being trunnioned on the adjacent plate I2 and its opposite ed being trunnioned on a bracketv 5I' depending from the frame I-. 52 'indicates a rock I5 shaft extending transversely of the frame I and mounted at its opposite ends in bearings pro-l vided on the lower ends of standards 53 fixed to and depending from the plates I2. Adjacent its opposite ends the shaft 52'is provided with arms 54 each connected to one end of a link 55, the

opposite end of the link being connected to a lever 56 xed to a shaft 51 and the latter in turn operating suitable brake shoes (not shown) arranged to engage a brake drum ixed to the adjacent wheel 4. One of the links 55 has connected to it a spring 58 anchored in an adJacent portion of the frame structure and arranged to normally bias the brake shoes to their inactive positions. 59 indicates a foot pedal suitably fixed tothe rock shaft 52 and disposed in position for operation by the driver. Forward of the rear axle I4 I provide a floor 6l for the feet of the driver, the lateral portions of the floor being securedby bolts to the plates I2. Rearward of the axle I4 I provide a transverse strut member 6I suitably connected at its opposite ends to the plates I2.' The strut 6I comprises upper, and lower walls and a rear wall 6Ia to which'issecured a casting 52, shaped to provide two recesses o in which are mounted plungers 63 resting on coiled springs to form a cushioned support for a drivers seat 54, the latter being secured to the outer end of a strip swingable at its inner. end about a hinge 86 carried by the axle hous- 65 ing Ila.

61 indicates a lever pivoted on a plate fixed to the inner side of the housing 46 and connected by a link 68 to an arm 55 xed to the rockshaft 52 and serving as an emergency brake lever.

'70 10 indicatesa controller preferably mounted on the inner side wall o'f acasing 1I, the latter being xedk to the adjacent side plate I2 remotel from the ldrivers seat 54. The casing 1I contains contact devices to control the motor circuit when-the controller is operated to its on positions and back toneutral position. 12 indicates a.cutout of any suitable construction and connected in the motor circuit. The movable member of the cut-out 12 is connected by 4cal height so las to adapt the tractor to operation in a mine where the ceiling and overheadtimbers are low. In this connection, the transmitting 15 mechanism and motor therefor are in direct connected relation and disposed at one side of the longitudinal axis vofthe tractor frame so as to locate the driver on the otherside of such .axis and thus permit the driver to be located at a 20 low level; furthermore, the drivers seat is arranged rearward of th rear axle and the voor for his feet are on the opposite side thereof so as to position the driver at the lowest possible level to eliminate danger of his head coming in 25 contact with overhead or depending walls.

Referring to Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, I have shown a modified form of construction wherein the driversstation is between the front and rear wheels and the operating devices arel associated 30 therewith to permit the driver to lie on one side on a portion of the frame, so that his entire body Ais in a low position while operating the tractor,

whereby operations may be carried on in areas., where the head room is reduced.

In these views, 14 indicates as an entirety a frame having a main section 14a, which lies over the axle 91: for the front wheels Illas-and a drop section 14b,which is disposed in` a plane below and extends to a point rearward of the housings 40 I4 for the axle for the rear wheels 4x and also extends laterally at either side of the main section 14a in front Vof the rear' wheels 4a: to form guards therefor, so that the rear wheels are withv in thelateral sides of the frame. Wheel housings 45 15 for the front wheels |01: are rigidly connected to the lateral portions of the drop section 14b and a transverselyarranged frame member 16 disposed forward of the front wheels Ila: and depending from the main-section 14a. The frame 5o member l16 consists of innerand outer vertically disposed plates 16a, 16h, rigidly connected together at theirvopposite ends,l the outer plate 16h being curved and related to the outer side edges of theV housings 15-to form a diverging contour, 65 I whereby the tractor may be driven into engagement with swinging doors-and readily cause the same to open as the tractor is driven forwardly. 'I'he lateral portions of the drop section 14b are provided with up-standing side walls 11. and the 00 front end of the drop section 14b is connected to the main section by a transverse vertical wall 11a. As shown, the drop section `14b between the walls 11 and wall 11a and rear portions of the wheel housings 'I5 form the drivers station c5 and enable the driver to lie on one side with'his head and one shoulder propped up by his adjacent arm, as shown in'dotted lines.

The front axle 5x is mounted to rock'about a longitudinal axis and also swing vertically aimi- 70 larly to tha-t alreadydescribed, except that the supporting devices arev reversed; that is,l the axle is provided with a forwardly extending arm .16 mounted to rotate on. a longitudinal axis and trunnioned on a transverse axis on a bracket 1I .7s

and on its inner side the axle is provided with a stud shaft fitting a bearing in a block which is guided vertically between guides 80. The relative movementJ between the axle 9a: and frame 5 section 14a is cushioned by cushioning means shown at 8l, the elements of which correspond to like parts shown in Figs. 1a, 2 and 6. The steering connections for the front wheels comprise the followingz' The spindle of each wheel is provided. with 4an arm 82 to which is pivotally connected a link 82a, the link in turn being pivotally connected to one end of a lever 83. The lever 83 is Vfulcrumed on a stud shaft carried by the axle 9x and its opposite end is connectedl by a rod 84 to the corresponding end of the other lever 83. One of the levers 83 is connected by a rod 85 to an arm 88, which, through suitable gearing within a housing 81, is operated by a steering column 81a having a steering wheel 88. The housing 81 is mounted on the wall 11a, the driven shaft of the gearing extending through the wall as shown in Fig. 8. The steering wheel 88 is preferably arranged centrally of the frame 14 so that the driver may lie on either side, thus adapting the use of either hand for steering to suit the convenience of the driver.

89 indicates a motor drivingly connected through a shaft and suitable power transmitting mechanism within a housing 48x to the axle for the rear wheels 4m. The motor 89 is fixed to a cradle 89a, which is preferably formed integral with the housing 481:, the outer end of the cradle 89a being supported by a standard 89h mounted on the drop section 14h.

90 indicates a pedal mounted on a vertically disposed stud shaft 9i carried by the drop section 14h adjacent each outer side thereof, so as to be operated by a foot of the driver when lying on either side. y Each pedal 90 swings in a plane 40 parallel to the drop section 14h and operates a pair of brake shoes within a brake drum 92 fixed to the outer end of the propeller shaft which is driven by the motor 89. Each pedal 90 is connected at 9 l to one end of a flexible rod mounted 45 within a tube 93, the other end of the rod being connected to a bell crank 94 section 1lb and the bell-crank in turn being connected by a ilexible rod mounted within a tube 95 to that element which operates the brake 5o shoes within the drum 92. The brakeshoes are normally biased out of engagement with the brake drum 92, and applied when .either pedal 90 is operated in an outward direction, against the tension of the adjacent spring 90a. 86 indi- 55 cates an emergency brake operating lever pivoted on the main section 14a and connected by a flexible rod within a tube 96a to an arm of the bell crank 94, as shown in Fig.-7. As shown, the rod in each tube 93, 95 and 96a is provided at its inner end with a slotted link which forms the connection between the rod and the bll crank 94, the slot permitting eitherrod .when operated to operate the bell crank without` operating any one of, the other rods. The emergency brake lever 96 may be locked in operated position andA Slased by means of a trigger engaging a ratchet 91 indicates a controller having a-handle 91a for operating the motor 89, the current for which 7o is suppliedby suitable batteries carried by the trail car (notshown), which is provided with a tongue B suitably coupledto the rear end of the vframe by a pin b. The controller is preferably mounted ona casing 98 which contains suitable contact devices to control the motor circuit.

pivoted on the dropy 99 indicates a suitable cut-out or switch interposed in the circuit for the motor 89, the movable member of the cut-outbeing connected by linkage 99' to the bell-crank 94 so that when the latter is operated by either ,pedal or the emergency brake lever 98 to apply the brake shoes to the drum 92, the circuit to the motor 89 is broken.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates many changes--in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

My disclosures and the description herein arepurely illustrative and not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. In a tractor providing minimum over-all height for use in a mine, the combination of a frame, having rear driven Wheels and front steerable wheels, power supply means on said frame, spaced longitudinally extending plates depending from said frame, an axle arranged to support said steerable wheels below said frame and within its front end and sides, the rear portion of said frame being cut away between said rear wheels, a motor mounted on said frame, power transmitting means between said motor and the axle for said rear wheels, arranged laterally of the longitudinally axis of said frame, a rock shaft sup-ported by said plates forward of the axle for said rear wheels, a brake for tne tractor, a pedal operatively connected to said rock shaft, and a seat for the driverM arranged behind the rear axle and at substantially the same height, and devices for controlling said motor and steering said steerable wheels arranged adjacent said seat.

2. In a 'tractor of minimum over-all height, the combination cf a frame having driven wheels" and steerable wheels adjacent to and supporting the opposite ends of said frame, power supply means on said frame, spaced,` longitudinally extending plates depending from said frame, a cross member between said plates, an axle arranged to support said steerable wheels below said frame and within its front end and sides and having connections with said cross member and' frame, that portion of said frame between the rear vsupporting Wheels being cut away, a motor and power transmitting means between it and the axle forr said driven wheels, arranged withinsaid cut-away portion of the frame and laterally of the longitudinal by said plates forward of the axle for said rear wheels, a brake for the tractor, a pedal operatively conriected to said rock shaft, connections between said shaft and said brake, a seat within said cut-away portion of the frame, and devices for controlling said motor and steering said steerable wheels arranged adjacent to said seat;

3. In a tractor of minimum over-all height, the combination of a frame having rear driven wheels and front steerable wheels, power supply means on said frame, spaced, longitudinally extend-ing plates depending from said frame, an axle Iarranged to support said steerable wheels belowsaid frameand within its front end and sides, the rear portion of said frame being cut away between 'saidI rear wheels, a motor arranged in said cut away portion and powerv transmitting means between said motor and the axle for said rear wheels, arranged laterally of the longitudinal axis of said frame, a flooring forward of and below the axle for said rear wheels and supported by said plates, a rock shaft supported by said plates foraxis of said frame, a rock shaft supported able wheels, the axle for said steerable wheels being arranged to support the latter below said frame and within its front end and sides, wheel housings for said rear wheels, said frame having a rounded front end and diverging sides extending to the outer side edges of said housings, a motor drivingly connected to the axle for said rear wheels, a drivers station comprising a flooring forward and beneath the level of the rear wheel axle and 'a seat rearward thereof, said motor and its connections with the rear wheel axle and said driver's station being disposed side by side substantially upon opposite sides of the longitudinal 10 axis of said frame.

FRANK STONER. 

